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The Jerusalem Post criticizes the government for agreeing to issue work permits for 20,000 Chinese construction workers, and states that in the absence of a bilateral agreement between Israel and China, “The legislative initiative, which was fast-tracked, risks repeating the country’s past mistake of committing serious workers’ rights violations.” The editor believes that the dearth of local construction workers notwithstanding, “for too long now Israel has relied on workers from outside to build their homes. The time has come for a new way of thinking,” and declares: “Training Israeli citizens to work in construction is one solution. But if our political leaders want to bring the Israeli construction sector up to par with international firms and stop the exploitation of cheap labor, the best solution is to open local markets up to competition.”

Haaretz contends that “Bringing Chinese workers into Israel is akin to human trafficking,” and asserts: “The bribes these workers are forced to pay turn them into virtual slaves here, tied to their jobs because they must pay the debts they accumulated en route to Israel.”

Globes asserts that “The government’s decision to import Chinese building workers reverses hard-won economic gains in Israel,” and criticizes Finance Minister Kahlon for selling out Israeli workers: “The contractors, agents, and those close to the levers of power stand to make a killing from the government’s decision. Kahlon will fix them the second Mercedes, another Rolex, at the expense of the income of thousands of Israeli blue-collar workers and craftsmen, who are trying to earn a decent living. This ‘achievement’ will cling for years to the record of a person who presents himself as a socially minded finance minister.”

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Yediot Aharonot attempts to examine Russia’s intentions in the Middle East, on the backdrop of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s forthcoming visit to Moscow, and cautions that “the expanding dialogue between the US and Russia requires Israel not to be portrayed as a neutral player between the battling world powers in the Middle East.” The author notes: “The Israeli-American alliance goes two ways, and when the upgrade of the qualitative advantage Israel requires in terms of weapons and strategic needs is discussed in the White House during the Obama-Netanyahu meeting in November, there must be no doubt regarding Israel’s commitment to its ally,”  and adds: “The Moscow meeting may affect the way the prime minister is received in Washington – as an ally or as a client.”

Israel Hayom declares that despites previous declarations to the contrary, in effect “the world’s superpowers have actually adopted the same policy of containment they allegedly opposed.” Noting that “the deal with Iran will require intensive and ongoing oversight from international bodies, primarily the U.S.,” the author adds: “The true test will lie not only in identifying Iranian violations, but also in the steps America and the international community take in response.”